Ukraine crisis is Obama’s fault, Sen. Kelly Ayotte says in Louisville

U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte blamed President Barack Obama on Monday for the crisis in Ukraine, where Russian troops have invaded the country.

Speaking at the University of Louisville’s McConnell Center for Leadership, Ayotte, R-N.H., accused Obama of using a policy of accommodation, which she said has emboldened Russian President Vladimir Putin to annex part of the country.

The situation in Ukraine devolved into chaos last month following violent and bloody protests against President Viktor Yanukovich. The Russians responded by sending troops, primarily into Crimea.

Over the weekend, the people of Crimea voted to secede from Ukraine and become part of Russia. Obama objected to the vote and told Putin the United States wouldn’t recognize Crimea as part of Russia and that the vote violated international law.

On Monday, Obama signed an executive order freezing Russian bank accounts in the U.S. and prohibiting top Russian and Ukrainian officials from traveling to the country.

Ayotte, the ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, blamed the Russian invasion on three specific actions by Obama:

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His decision in 2009 not to place NATO missile defense systems in Poland and the Czech Republic.

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Obama’s choice in 2010 to “brush aside” the Russian invasion of Georgia, which happened during the George W. Bush administration, by pushing through a trade agreement with Russia.

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And Obama overlooking violations of one nuclear arms agreement at the same time the two countries were negotiating a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.

“The message was that America would look the other way on Russia’s transgressions,” Ayotte said.

“I think the simple question we have to ask ourselves in evaluating the ‘reset’ policy is, ‘Did we get anything beneficial in return?’ ” she said. “I think on every front, looking at it objectively, you would have to say the answer is ‘No.’ ”

In response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine, Ayotte stopped short of calling for military intervention, but she urged Obama to order a series of economic and diplomatic sanctions on Russia.

Ayotte called for the U.S. and the world community to “alienate” Putin, to increase natural gas production in an effort to cut off Russia economically and to “revisit” the decision not to put missile defense systems in Poland and the Czech Republic.

Ayotte also backed freezing bank accounts and blocking visas for Putin’s top aides — which Obama had done earlier in the day.

The G-8, a group of the top industrialized nations, also may expel Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine.

Ayotte also said that Russia should return Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor who has leaked government secrets and is now in Russia, to the U.S. “to face justice here. And instead, they’ve allowed Snowden to use his perch in Russia to further damage U.S. national security.”

Later, after attending a round-table discussion with veterans, Ayotte endorsed Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., during a news conference at the Hilton Garden Inn.

“I’m very passionate about supporting Mitch McConnell because I know that he has the character, the integrity and cares truly about people and getting things done in the country,” she said.

Denise Fitzpatrick, a spokeswoman for U of L, said the school did not pay for Ayotte’s trip to Louisville and provided only transportation from Louisville International Airport to campus and the room on campus where she spoke.

Reporter Joseph Gerth can be reached at (502) 582-4702. Follow him on Twitter at @Joe_Gerth.